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TV presenter Declan Donnelly joked that he had “twice the amount of work” as he fronted Saturday Night Takeaway without sidekick Ant McPartlin for the first time.

The hugely popular primetime Saturday evening show, presented by the broadcasting duo known as Ant and Dec, was pulled from the air last weekend following McPartlin’s drink driving charge.

It was subsequently announced that the final two shows of the ITV series would be presented by Donnelly alone after McPartlin returned to rehab, where he has been receiving treatment for addiction issues.

Several viewers noted that Donnelly looked “nervous” and “a bit upset” as he was introduced alone as the show began.

He thanked the audience for giving him a “very, very warm welcome” after an extended standing ovation and he joked with guest Stephen Merchant, the comedian, who asked if he needed a hand presenting as there was "a little bit of space on the stage.”

At one point he said that following the news had been "unavoidable" in recent weeks but did not explicitly mention his co-host.

Co-presenters Scarlett Moffatt and Stephen Mulhern took on their regular support roles while McPartlin appeared in the usual opening sequence and as part of the duo's pre-recorded Saturday Knight Takeaway sketch after ITV decided it should be broadcast.

Ant McPartlin pictured heading out from his rented home in London last weekCredit:
Flynet Pictures

McPartlin, 42, was involved in a collision with two other cars while he was driving his Mini in Mortlake, south-west London at around 4pm on March 18. He was arrested after failing a roadside breathalyser test.

He is said to have been returning home after walking his dogs, with his mother in the car.

A number of individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and a three-year-old passenger from one of the cars was taken to hospital to be checked as a precaution.